[Federal Register: January 9, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 6)]
[Notices]               
[Page 1508-1509]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09ja98-100]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary

 
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

January 6, 1998.
    The Department of Labor (DOL) has submitted the following public 
information collection requests (ICR's) to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). A copy of 
each individual ICR, with applicable supporting documentation, may be 
obtained by calling the Department of Labor, Department Clearance 
Officer, Todd R. Owen (202) 219-5096 ext. 143) or by E-Mail at Owen-
Todd@dol.gov. Individuals who use a telecommunication device for the 
deaf (TTY/TDD) may call (202) 219-4720 between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. 
Eastern Time, Monday-Friday.
    Comments should be sent to the Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Attn: BLS, DM, ESA, ETA, MSHA, OSHA, PWBA, or VETS, Office of 
Management and Budget, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503 (202) 395-
7316), within 30 days from the date of this publication in the Federal 
Register.
    The OMB is particularly interested in comments which:
    <bullet> Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    <bullet> Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
    <bullet> Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    <bullet> Minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submission of responses.

    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    Title: Certificate of Electrical/Noise Training, MSHA Form 5000-1.
    OMB Number: 1219-0001 (extension).
    Frequency: On Occasion.
    Affected Public: Businesses and other for profit; small business or 
organizations.
    Number of Respondents: 3,800.
    Estimated Time Per Respondent: 4.36 hours.
    Total Burden Hours: 16,584.
    Total annualized capital/startup costs: 0.
    Total operating/maintaining costs: $389,049.
    Description: MSHA Form 5000-1, Certificate of Electrical/Noise 
Training, is required to be used by instructors to report to MSHA for 
certification those persons who have satisfactorily completed either a 
coal mine electrical training program or a noise training course.

    Agency: Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration.
    Title: Summary Plan Description Requirements under the Employee 
Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).
    OMB Number: 1210-0039 (extension).
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-profit 
institutions; individuals.
    Number of Respondents: 194,235.
    Estimated Time Per Respondent: Approximately 6 hours to develop the 
Summary Plan Descriptions (SPD's); preparation of a summary of such 
changes (SMM) will average 1 hour; and an estimated 2 minutes for 
reproduction and mailing of the document.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,128,919.
    Total annualized capital/startup costs: 0.
    Total annual costs (in thousands): $82,242.
    Description: As required by ERISA, this existing regulation 
provides plan

[[Page 1509]]

administrators with the procedures and guidelines necessary to furnish 
plan participants and beneficiaries with Summary Plan Descriptions that 
clearly explain their rights and obligations.

    Agency: Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration.
    Title: Notice of Enrollment Rights.
    OMB Number: 1210-0101 (extension).
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-profit 
institutions; Group Health Plans.
    Number of Respondents: 14,590.
    Estimated Time Per Respondent: .50 minutes.
    Total Burden Hours: 5,715.
    Total annualized capital/startup costs: 0.
    Total annual costs (in thousands): $730.
    Description: Under 29 CFR 2590.701-6 of the April 8 Interim Rules, 
a group health plan offering group health insurance coverage is 
obligated to provide a description of the plan's special enrollment 
rules. The special enrollment rules generally apply in circumstances 
when the participant initially declined to enroll in the plan, and 
subsequently would like to have coverage.

    Agency: Pension and Welfare Administration.
    Title: Notice of Pre-Existing Condition Exclusion.
    OMB Number: 1210-0102 (extension).
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; Business or other for-
profit; Not-for-profit institutions; Group Health Plans.
    Number of Respondents: 6,590.
    Estimated Time Per Respondent: Notices to all eligible employees 
are estimated to take 1 hour for preparation of a notice, and .50 
minutes for distribution. For notices to participants with insufficient 
prior coverage, it is estimated to take 1 hour per plan, and an average 
of 2 minutes for preparation.
    Total Burden Hours: 8,150.
    Total annualized capital/startup costs: 0.
    Total annual costs (in thousands): $700.
    Description: Pursuant to 29 CFR 2590.701-3(c), a group health plan 
offering group health insurance coverage may not impose any pre-
existing condition exclusions on a participant unless the participant 
has been notified on the plan's provisions and his or her right to 
establish prior creditable coverage. 29 CFR 2590.701-4 requires that 
plans that use the alternative method of crediting coverage disclose 
their method at the time of a participant's enrollment in the plan. 29 
CFR 2590.701-5(d) requires that before a plan imposes a pre-existing 
condition exclusion on a particular participant, it must first disclose 
that determination in writing, including the basis for the decision and 
an explanation of any appeal procedure.

    Agency: Provision and Welfare Benefits Administration.
    Title: Establishing Prior Creditable Coverage.
    OMB Number: 1210-0103 (extension).
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; Business or other for-
profit; Not-for-profit institutions; Group Health Plans.
    Number of Respondents: 15,604.
    Estimated Time Per Respondent: Generation of the certification 
ranges from 2 to 5 minutes depending on when the certification is 
generated. .50 minutes was used for distribution for all applicable 
certifications and notices.
    Total Burden Hours: 336,060.
    Total annualized capital/startup costs (in thousands): $5,400.
    Total annual costs (in thousands): $26,400.
    Description: In order to meet the Health Insurance Portability and 
Accountability Act's goal of improving access to and portability of 
health care benefits, the statute provides that, after the submission 
of evidence establishing prior creditable coverage, a subsequent health 
insurance provider would be limited in the extent to which it could use 
pre-existing condition exclusions to limit coverage. This Information 
Collection Request covers the submission of materials sufficient to 
establish prior creditable coverage.
Todd R. Owen,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 98-570 Filed 1-8-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-23-M